Fence-making machine



March 27, 1928.

1,663,786 D. A. WILSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec.20, 1926 6 sheets-sheet 1 INVERTER- x a 2A :1% W12" March 27, 1928. 1,663,786

1 D. A. WILSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE.

Filed Dec.20. 1926 6 Shet $he6t 2 March 27, 1928. 1,563,786

D. A. WILSQN FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed Deo.20. 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 D. A. WILSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE March 27, 1928.

Filed Dec. 20, 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Max-ch27, 1928. 1,663,786

- D. A. WILSON FENCE MAKING MACHINE Filed Dec.20. 1926 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 L Jim-INTER.

' TIT-'5 I Patented 2 l a Y '1,e63,78t

scheme ason, rsosia I LI'n0is,;iiss'Ie1To3 e maefsicwmm bdMrAN'Y, or 'GnL'EsBUneJ LiNoIs, A 'eoeroeama at i'LLitNoIs.

FENCE-MAKING ivm'oninn. Application filed December 20, 1926. Serial No. 155,817.

7 '].l1isinventio11 has reference to 'a fence upon to secure the alternate short slats in making machine and particularly to maposition. y W p "chines designed for the manufactureof slat A further ob ect otthe invention is a fencing. Fencing of the type referred to is packer rnechanism for placing the slats or 5 made np ofa'plurality orseries of longitudiwood pickets into; 'crotches inthe line wires nally spa'bed cable strands forming the line formed by the twisting of the strands coinwir'es of the fencing and connected by wood prising the same, which s'aidpacker mechplckets or' slats. "Such fencing is useful for anlsm operates in timed relation to the snow fences along railroad right-of-ways ameans adapted to periodically engage the and highways; forcorn cri bing and like ztop strand sdurlng the placing of the alteruses, and for yard fences. In most, if not 'n'a-te short slats or wood pickets. "all-cases, fencing made of'this character has The invention further comprises; strucincluded wood pickets of substantially the tural and operating parts which will more same height or length throughout. fully'appea'r in the followingdescription. 6 15 The principal object of the present inven- That the invention maybe more fully 1 tion is to'provide a machine for the manu-' derstood, referenc'eis had .to the accompany 'fact'ure of a slat or wood picket fence, whereing'd-rawings -for1ning;a parto,f the descrip in such 'a fence is ornamental in character tion, illustrating a preferred embodiment of and thus may be used for fencing lawns, the invention, wherei-n-e v v 20 residential property and estates. Such fenc- Figure 1is a topplan View of a machine ing therefo're 'nstead' of co nprising slats embodying my, invention, ,slats or wood or wood pickets of substantially the same pickets being shownin dotted lines in posi- 5? heightor length throughout, comprises preftion at the intake side. of the machine where erably slats which are alternately long and they are fed to the twisting mechanism, and shortand their upper or top ends made of slats also beingshownuin dotted linesat the corresponding ornamental shapes; Such a outgoing side of the machine in the relation structure not only presentsa fence of 'orn'athey assume with respect to each other and Iiiefltal design which may be use'd as fencing the line 'Wires when thefence'isconiplete; for tlie purposes stated, but also provides "Figure 2is a partial front elevation of the 30 fencing with a close spacing at the bot- 'mac'hin'e tov show the feeding means for feedtor'n or 'loweriportion, which close spacing is ing the slats'orwood pickets to the twisters. desirable and which may be more or less Figure?) isan elevation partly, in section open at the top or 'upper'portion of the fence on the'saine scale asshown in'Figure 2, and and somewhat reduces the cost in manufacas the same would appear if taken on the line 35 "tu're. p 7 3'3,'Figure 1.

Theinvntion has'for a further object to Figure .4: is an enlargedyertical sectional provide "a slat or wood picket fence machine iew, asthe same would appear if taken on 'ie'cmdingtwisti'ng means; means for feedthe line l-Fignre 1. V1

' 7 UV, w v

fmg slats or XVOQClPLCkQiZS transversely ofand 3 Figure-5 IS an enlarged partial plan view 40 to sai'cljwis mg ineainsymeans for placin'gro-f the parts as they would appear 1n plan -tlie "s ts "orwo'o'djnckets in position to be "OnYFigureA. r v

1 enga'g and feet s'a'id feed'ii g means to Figure. 6 i a detail sectional View, as the the twisting means; and combined or asso same would appear "if takeno n the line '6--6, ciated with "the 't'wisting, feeding and plac- Figi-ire 5.:

.45 ii'n'gi means, 'ineansfad'a'pted to periodically Figures? and8 show inelevationthe deajnd si'iece'ssi ely engage the top cable tails of the mechanism adapted toperiodis'tr'aiid betw ensuccessive long slats and in Cally andfsuccessively engage the top cable line-,with alternat short slats, whereby a strand wherebythe proper twisting th'r'eproper twist'ng of the vtop cabl'e strand may 'ofmay be effected when the alternate short be efict'd atthe same time asth'e' i'einainislets orwoodipicketsare woven; into the jag-came fsi i nds of the fence are 'operated machine; Figure 7 shmi'hi gflby dotted and therefor,

full lines the position of the wire engaging or retention member during the twisting of the top strand, and Figure 8 shows the same parts in non-engaging position.

Figure 9 is a detail in elevation partly in section of the packer and operating means the dotted line showing the advanced position of the packer and the relative spacing positions of the slats or wood pickets.

Figures 10 and 11 show in detail the successive positions of the retention member adapted to engage and disengage with the top cable strand during the placing of the alternate long and short slats or wood pickets.

Figure 12 is a detail perspective View of the retention member which is adapted to engage with the top cable strand and effect the proper twisting of such strand during the placing of the alternate short slats or wood pickets. V

Figure 13 is a detail plan showing the upper or ornamental portion of the fence and the manner and form of the twists in the cable strand wires, including the top and next adjacent cable strands, and

Figure 14c shows a section of fence including a series of the long and short slatsor wood pickets and the points of connection by the strands which are here 'merely inclicated by a dotted line.

Like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the figures.

I desire to state atthe outset that I am aware that it is not broadly new to provide amachine for the manufacture of fencing comprising spaced line wires made of cable strands and to connect these strands by slats or wood pickets, as such a fence is not only old in the art, but machines for the manufacture of such fencing are also old in the art, including wire twisters and means for operating the same; slat or wood picket feeding means including what have been referred to as starting and feeding rollers and also a carrier or conveyorfor placing the slats or wood pickets in position to be engaged by the starting rollers and fed by the feeding rollers to the twisters, the latter being operated by means of a reciprocating rack bar for rotating the twisters first in one direction and then in an opposite direction, and means being provided for placing the slats or wood pickets into the crotches formed by the twisting of the wires comprising the cable strands. As I have said, there is nothing broadly new in a machine comprising in its makeup the various mechanisms which I have referred to, and whether the machine operates continuously or intermittently is immaterial; I am not aware, however, that automatic machines of this character have ever been made embodying structure included within the invention -tion and rollers which is which at their forward ends are engaged by sprocket wheels a on a shaft 5 and at their rear ends the said chains are engaged by sprocket wheels a on a shaft a The manner of imparting power to the said chains or belts a is by means of a sprocket wheel a on one end of the shaft 5, which is engaged by a sprocket chain (0 also engaged by a on one end of an opersprocket pinion a derives its power from ating shaft 4 which the drivingshaft 1 in a manner which will be explained. In accordance with the general located at what may be termed the intake side of the machine and where the slats or wood pickets are shown on the carrier is approximately at the point wherethe atplan of the machine, the carrier A is tendant will stand to assort the slats or wood pickets into the assembly, also shown, whereby they may be successively carried into position to be engaged by the starting rollers and thence fed by the feeding rollers to the twisting mechanism. The slats or wood pickets at the far end of the carrier A may be laid thereon by an attendant and gradu ally fed to the position of assembly, as in dicated.

The starting rollers B and B, see Figures 1 and 2, are arranged in superimposed relanormally in non-slat or wood picket engaging position whereby the slats or wood pickets may be inserted therebetween and then operate to engagesuch slats to feed the same to the feeding rollers C and C, which in turn feed the slats to the, twisting mechanism.

preferably fixed relation and their periph- The feeding rollers C and C have a cries serrated, toothed or milled whereby' they 'may firmly grip the slats or wood pickets as they are received from the-starting rollers, to insure delivery to the twisting mechanism. The peripheral face .of the starting roller B is also preferably serrated, toothed or milled. as are the rollers C and C, but the roller B may be'smooth faced, as shown. The feeding rollers C and C are both positively driven; whereas the starting roller B is the only roller of the two starting positively driven, the roller B being supported so as to be moved in predetermined intervals into frictional engagement with the slats or wood pickets placed between the rollers B and B, to start and cause the same to he engaged by the rection with each reciprocating movement ofthe rack bar, whereas the other twister spindles will rotate approximately two and one-half turns in one direction and two and one-half turns in the opposite direction with .mentioned, are fed alternately first a long slatand then a short slat and asthey are projected along the machine and through the twisters by means of the starting and feeding rollers, they abut at their lower ends with the stop or frame member 41, see Figure l The timing arrangementfor the top marginal twister and the remaining twisters, as just previously explained, is to produce thetwisting operation of the cable strands forming the longitudinal wires-of the fence, as best seen in Figures 10, 11 and 13, it being observed from an examination of the last mentioned figure, that there are short, alternate reverse twisted portions of these cable strands between the adjacent long and short slats or wood pickets. and the marginal wires engaging and holding the upper ends of the long slats or wood pickets and therebctween are twisted in reverse directions from pointsmidway between said long slats or wood pickets and in a. manner which I will now explain.

From an examination of Figures 10 and 11 it will be observed how each pair of linewires to form the cable strands are directed through the twister heads 24 for the reception of the long and short slats or wood pickets, and how such wires are twisted into ca-bles'between the long and short slats to produce the alternate reverse twisted portions between such long and short slats, as shown in Figure 13, and thereby secure the same in position, and how the top marginal cable is formed to produce the reverse twisted portions between the upper ends of the long slats from and at a point mediate the long slats and in axial alinement with the short slats; which must first be passed between the two wires formin the marginal cable strand before the twisting of such wires in the reverse directions best seen in Figure 13. The placement of the long and short slats between all of the pairs of wires forming the several cable strands, with the exception of the top marginal cable strand, provides the retention means whereby the alternate reverse twisted portions may be accomplished as a result of the reverse rotations of the twisters and for securing the long and short slats to said wires. his

same result is obtainedin the placementof long slats are naturally much-longer than such twisted portions appear in the other cable strands and particularly those engagin and securing the alternate long and short slats or wood pickets. To accomplish this twisting ofthe wires forming .the top cable strand, afterthe feeding and placement of'the short slats or wood pickets, there is provided a reciprocately supported retention member 42, the upper end of which has a wire receiving slot or throat 48. This member is not only supported whereby it may have reciprocal movement, but is capable of oscillatory movement whereby it may adapt itself to the longitudinal move ment of the cable strand resulting fromthe feeding operations imparted to such cable strand, or pulling out thereof, during the wrapping operation of the completed fence .or fabric.

Reference being had to Figures 4, 7 and 8, the operation and function of this retention member is very clearly set forth. It will be observed that the retention member assumes a preferably vertical position having a pivotal connection at its lower end with a lever bar 44 and extending up therefrom passes through a slotted frame 45, which not only guides the retention member during its reciprocal movement, but also permits theoscillatory movement referred to from the'fulcrum point where it is pivoted to the lever bar 44; This lever bar has a pivotal connection at 46 with the machine frame and on one end carries a roller 47 which is adapted to ride on a cam member 48 secured to the operating shaft 4. The other end of the lever bar 44 is curved upwardly, as at 49, and between this curved portion of said lever bar and the retention member 42, there is a connecting rod 50 on which and between the retention member and said lever bar is carried a spring 51 and connecting the body portion of said lever barand extending therefronr to a frame part 52'is a rod 53 on which andbetween the lever bar and the frame. portion 52 is carried a spring 54. The timing of the cam 48 is such that instantly after the placement of the short slats or the lever bar 44 is actuated to project the retention member 42 in an upward direction, causing the wires comprising'the marginal cable strand to become seated in the slotted Wood pickets,

onthroated portion 43 in the upper end of said retention member, as best seen in dotted lines in Flgure 10, and also in full lines in'eFigure 11, which makes it possible to? 'movement is permitted by reason of the pivotal connection between the retention member l-Ql and the lever bar 44, the movement, being somewhat as illustrated by the full and dotted line positions of the reten-. tion member 42, as best seen in Figures 7 and 11. On the completionvof this reverse twisting operation, the cam 48 has moved to a posit-ion to permit the lowering of the retention member 42 and its disconnection with the marginallcable strand. This withdrawal of the retention member 42 from engagementwith the top: marginal strand, is accomplished through the action of the cam and the spring 51 which hasbeencompressed during the. oscillatory.- movement ofsaid retention member by'reason of the feeding or pulling out of the fabric, then acts to return the retention member to its initial vertical operating vposition. During the withdrawal movement of the retention member 42 to return it to its initial position will result in compressing the spring 54 which acts in timed relation to the position as-.

sumed by the cam 48 to cause the retention member 42 to be again projected vertically to engage the wires forming the top marginal strand immediately upon the placement of the next and succeeding alternate short slat or wood picket. Such operations as I have described are continued periodically and from time to time with the feedingand placing of each alternate short slat or wood picket.

The packer mechanism for moving the slats or wood pickets sidewise and into the crotches formed by the twisting of the wires comprising the cable strands, which, as will be understood, is after the feeding of said slats or wood pickets by the starting and feeding rollers, comprises a transversely dis posed and movably supported bar 55 to which are connected blocks 56 supporting transversely arranged sectional angle bars 57 which, as best seen in Figure 1, arenormally located between the twister heads 24. p In the initial, feeding of the slats or wood pickets they are passed through the twister heads and supported upon these wvith thegear wheel 9.

angle iron sections 57, as will be seen in dotted lines'in Figure 9. To the opposite ends ofthe bar 55 are connected reciprocally supported rods 58 guided in their-movem'ents by and throughframe parts 59. The opposite ends of these bars 58a1'e connected by links 60 to the upper ends of lever'bars 61 which are pivoted at 62 to castings 63 secured to the frame of the machine,the lower ends of said leverbars-having connected theretorods 63-which pass through frame parts and carry springs 64. The lever bars 61 also have connected thereto rollers 65 adapted to ride on cams 66 secured to the shaft 4. These cams 66 are timed in their operation to move thesupporting 55 forward immediatelyupon the feeding and placement of a slat or wood picket] on. the angle sections 57 to be deposited in the crotches of the wires forming the cable strands,wherebyduring the reverse twisting operation of, said cable strands the slats or wood pickets may be secured in proper position thereto. I ingbar 55 fisfshown in slat receiving posi- In Figure-9 the supporttion in full lines and in slat deposited and wire securing position in dotted lines. During the operation ofthe cams 66 to move the V supporting, (it is compressed andimmediately upon the cams 66 beinglrotated to position to permit the withdrawal or return of said supporting bar 55 to its initial position, the springs 6% function to accomplish this purpose.

The fabric as it is;completed passes over a tension roller D and down and around a pulling out roller E and thence to a wrapper F on which the completed fabric is wound. The tension roller acts as an idler and is not driven, but the pull out E has'a shaft 6 to which is connected a sprocketwheel 6 driven by a sprocket chain .6 engaged by a sprocketpinion e on a shaft G, which also has connected thereto a gear wheel 9 and Ia sprocket wheel g". 7 its power from the operating shaft): and from a gear pinion thereon which meshes with a gear piniong which inturn meshes Power is supplied to, the machine'from any suitable source, preferably through a belt, not shown, which is adapted to drive the pulley H loosely carried on the driving shaft 1,but adapted to be clutched thereto by the friction clutch h movable into and out of operative engagement by means of the hand operated lever h. pinion 17, previously referredto, is preferably loose on the shaft 1, but adapted to be clutch connected thereto by means of the clutch member I,ito which isope'rably connected the hand lever 71. With these power connect-ions, whenthe clutch I is connected to the gear pinion 17 andthepulley H is in driving connection with the driving shaft 1,

The gear wheel g-receives 1 The small gear 7 power may be imparted from the shaft to the various operating shafts and various operating parts which act in timed relation to receive a slat, start it into feeding-posr tion, feed it to the twisters and through the operation ofthe latter, twist the w res forming the cable strands by reverse twists to secure the slats or wood pickets thereto and thereby completes the fence fabric which is wound intorolls onthe wrapper F. The operator, through the lever 72 may disconmeet the machine from the source of power by the disconnection of the clutch h from the pulley H, or suchpower connection may remain intact and he may, by theoperation of the lever 71, disconnect the gear whecl'16 from the driving shaft 1, which will immediately stop the operation of the twisters.

While the wire guiding means for the wires from the reels, not shown, to the twisting spindles, is immaterial, as they are well known and in general use,'I have shown aframe J on which is journaled a shaft j provided with grooved wire guiding rollers orwheels j, around which the wires 'comprising the cable strands-are directed to the coiling spindles or shafts, r

The speed ratio between the spindle for the top marginal cable strand and the remaining spindlesshould be maintained approximately two to one, for the reasonthat the wires forming the top marginal strand betweenthe longer slats must be intertwisted by reverse twists substantially throughout between said long slats; whereas, where the short slats are positioned bet-ween the long slats the wires securing the same are twisted only the distance between the adjacent long and short slats. V

WVhat I claim is 1- 1. In a fence machine, twisters for twisting cable strands to secure alternate long and short wood slats, means to rotate the twisters, meansto rotate the marginal twister for the top marginal cable strand at an increased speed over the remaining twisters, and retention means to engage the top marginal cable strand between the upper ends of the longer slats toaccomplish the twisting of such strand at the same time as the securing of a short slat to the other strand. 7

2. In a fence machine, twisters for twisting cable strands to secure long and short wood slats, means to alternately rotate said,

twisters in opposite directions to twist said strands first in one direction and then in an opposite direction, means to rotate the marginal twister for the top marginal cable strand at an increased speed over the re maining-twisters, and retention means to engage the top cable strand between the upper ends of the longer slats durlngthe interval of securing a short slat to the other strands,

whereby the reverse twisting-Lot the top marginal cable may be accomplished between the longer slats. t w

3. In a fence machine, twisters for twist ing cable strands to secure thereto and therein long and short wood slats, means toalter-r nately feed long and short slats between the wires forming each cable strand and to place the short slats for securement by all. strands except the top marginal strand, and retention means adapted to engage the top marginal strand following the placement of each short slat, whereby the twisting: of said marginal strand may be accomplished-while theshort slats are being secured to the other strands. V 1

4. In a fence machine, twisters for twist-- ing cable strands to secure thereto and therein long and short wood slats, means to =rotate said twisters first in one; directitm' and then in an opposite direction, means to-rotate the top marginal twister at a speed greater than the remaining twisters but allin timed relation so as to receive said slats as fed, means to alternatelyfeed long and short slats between the wires forming each cable strand and to place the short slats for securement by all strandsex'cept:the top marginal strand, and retention means adapt- I ed to engagethe top marginal strandi following the placement ofeach short slat; whereby the twisting of said marginal strand may beaccomplished while the short slats are being secured to theother strands.

In a fence machine, twisters for twisting pairs-of wires to form cable: strands,-

means to rotate said twisters first in one direction and then 111 an opposite direction, means to alternately feed long and short 'wood slats through andbetween the wires forming each cable strand and to place the 10;

short slats for securement by all strands X- cept the top marginal strand} a packer means to move each slat sidewise and longitudinally of and between the -.wires for securing the same, and a'retention means to 1m engage the top marginal cable strand at the point made vacant by each short slat and in axial alignment therewith, whereby said marginal strand may be twisted in reverse' directions between the long slats while the H5- short slat-s are secured to the other wires.

(3. In a fence machine, twisters-for twist-- ing pairs of wires to form cable strands,

means to rotate said twisters first in onedirection'then in an opposite direction, means to feed said wires continuously, means to alternately feed long and short'woodfslats crosswise between each pair of wires, the

short slats being of a length for securement to all strands except the top marginal strand,

a packer mechanism for placing each slat when fed into proper position between its pairs of wires to allow for the proper reverse twisting of such wires, and a-retention' means to engage the .top marginal strand between long-slats at a point made vacant by the; short slats and in axial alignment therewith, whereby said marginal strand may be twisted in reverse directions between the long slats while the short slats. are secured to the other wires, said retention means capable of being moved into and out of engagement with said marginal strand while the latter is moving and to be moved therewith a predetermined distance.

7. In a fence machine, twisters for twisting pairs of wires to form cable strands. means to rotate said twisters first in one direction then in an opposite direction, means to alternately place a long wood slat across and between the wires forming each cable strand and a short slat between each long slat to be secured by all but the top marginal strand, a retention means to engage the top marginal strand at the point made vacant by each short slat, said retention means comprising a reciprocally supported bar capable of limited oscillatory movement, and means to actuate said retention bar.

8. In a wood slat fence making machine,

in combination with slat feeding and wire twisting means, of wire retention means comprising a member movable to engage and release suchwire between the feeding of certain slats, and means to alternately movev said member into and out of operative position with said wire.

9. In a wood slat fence making machine, in combination'with slat feeding and wire twisting means, of wire retention means comprising a reciprocal member movable to engage and release such wire between the feeding of certain slats, a lever means to reclprocate said member, and means to operate said lever means.

10. In a wood slatfence making machine, in combination with slat feeding and wire twisting means, of wire retention means comprising a reciprocal member provided with a wire seat and movable to engage and release such wire between the feeding of certain slats, a lever bar for moving said member, a cam means to move said lever bar in one direction and spring means to move said lever bar in the opposite directionj 11. In a wood slat fence making machine, means for continuously feeding forward pairs of strand wires, means for feeding wood slats across and between said pairs of wires,-means for alternately twisting each pair of wires first in one direction. then in an opposite direction, one such twisting means adapted to 1mpart longer reverse twists of pairs of wires than are imparted to the other pairs of wires, aretention member movable to engage and disengage with such wires having such longer reverse twists and to move a predetermined distance therewith when engaging the same, a lever bar for operating said member to move it-into operative and inoperative-positions, a cam means tomovesaid lever-bar in one direc-v tion, spring means to move said lever bar in the opposite direction, andspring; means to return said. member. after moving a predetermined distance with said wires.

12. The wire retention means herein described, comprising a vertically movable and oscillatory bar provided with a wire seat, a lever having a pivotal connection with said bar, an operating shaft, a cam on said shaft for actuating said lever, spring means for moving said bar-vertically in one direction, and spring means for oscillating said bar in one direction of its movement.

13.The packer mechanism herein described, comprising a movable bar supporting sectional guides for wood slats, an operating shaft, cams on said shaft, a pair of levers, each operated in one direction of movement by said cams, spring means to move said levers in opposite directions, and connections between said levers and said movable bar.

14. In a fence machine, a. plurality of twister spindles, a twister on each spindle,

a rack bar for rotating said twister spindles in opposite directions, a driving shaft, an operating shaft adapted to be clutch connected with said drivin shaft, a lever member operatively connected with said rack bar, a frame member pivotally connected with said lever and movable transversely across I said operating shaft, an eccentric member on said operating shaft within said frame member, and a pair of rollers journaled in said frame member and adapted to be alternately engaged by said eccentric member for reciprocating said frame member.

15. In a fence machine, a plurality of twister'spindles, a twister on each spindle, a

its

reciprocal rack'bar, gearing between said member on said operating shaft within said frame member, and a pair of rollers jour naled in said frame member and adapted to be alternately engaged by said eccentric member for reciprocating said frame mem ber.

16. In a fence machine, twisters for twisting alternate. twists in pairs of wires to form cable strands, means for feeding wood slats transversely of and between said pairs of wires and alternately to the twisting of said pairs of wires, the alternate slats being short slats and being secured to all but the top cable strand, and means operable 0n the placement of said short slats to engage the top marginal strand at the points left vacant by said short slats and in axial alignment therewith, whereby connected alternate twists are formed in. said top cable strand and between the longer slats and of a. length longer than the twists in the'other 10 wires between the long and short slats.

In witness whereof I have herenntolset my hand this 10th day of December, 1926. DOUGLAS A. WILSON. 

